Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Home means different things to different people, so this week we are going to explore what it means to us

What does it feel like?

How do you recognise it?

What makes it home - people, place, time

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I believe the
saying is true, "Home is where the heart is."

I have memories
of each house I lived in as I was growing up. There was the duplex in Oakland,
California and two houses also in Oakland that I remember. These places covered
the time in my life from kindergarten through second grade.

From third
grade on we lived in two homes, both in San Lorenzo, California. The first home
I lived in from third grade until sixth grade. (I posted a photo of that home here.) The next home we lived in was where we lived through out the rest of my school years. (There is a photo of
this home from a previous post here.) My first five year's, and five homes. (I
was told I lived in another place, but I was to young to remember it myself)

Each of these
places felt like home to me. They were where my parents lived and of course
where I wanted and needed to be. It was where I was loved and fed. It was where
I played and got in trouble. It was were I went when school was over for the
day. Home sweet home.

Comforting,
solid, cozy, familiar, warm, and peaceful. Each of these homes truly felt
like home at each stage in my life. When I moved out from my
parent's house, I lived in a few different apartments, and eventually a couple of
friend's homes for a short time.

My first apartment gave me independence, no
parents to answer to. My roommates (2 of them) and I could decorate and come
and go as we wished. Our first home away from home.

A year or so later one of the roommates left, and then there were two. We moved into a bit smaller apartment in the same complex. The third apartment (also in the same
complex), I moved into with a boyfriend and his room mate. The boyfriend and I soon moved to
another apartment, in a different city. Eventually, we rented a house (I
shared this home here.) When the relationship fell apart I moved
in with a friend, and then another friend who was married with two children. I
met my future husband through this family that I lived with.

Now I was married and living in a "new to me home" in the same city as the apartments I lived in were located. My (ex) husband was buying the house when we were
married. We lived there, almost a year I think, until a car from the freeway behind us came crashing
through our backyard fence. It just missed landing in our swimming pool,
thankfully. It happened just before midnight one evening when my (ex) husband
was getting ready to go to work. The teenage boy in the car was out there screaming, so I am
sure he was hurt...

Needless to
say, my ex went to work worried that this could happen again, and we ended up
moving. We lived with his parent's for a few months until we found our own home in a
"new city" in California. It was a brand new home being built, and it
became "our home" very quickly. We landscaped the front and put a
pool in the backyard. Our daughter was born while living here. We had a dog and
my sister and brother in- laws both lived close by us, just a block away.

As I said, my
"ex," so yes, we divorced. I moved to another city with my daughter
and remarried. Only two houses later is where I have settled for more than 25
years After my sisters moved out of our childhood home, our parents moved
also. So, our last home with our parents disappeared rather quickly. The houses
they owned after this was "their home."

I have listed over a dozen
places where I have lived. Of those, the ones I felt were "truly
home" would be four of the homes I lived in with my parents, the home
my "ex" and I purchased and my current home with my best
friend/hubby.

There is a story of my "first home" shared with me by my dad. It goes something like this~

My mother and father were looking for a place to live (I was about three years old at the time) we stopped at one specific house.
Dad said when we walked into the house I took my coat off and threw it on
the floor as I walked through the front room. He said I let them know I was “home.”
He did everything he could and succeeded in getting us that home.

My third cousin, a "Living Anderson."Husband of my third cousin once removed, a "Living Hoffman."My third cousin, a "Living Kallstrom."My third cousin, a "Living Nolan."My third cousin, a "Living Olsen."Wife of my third cousin, a "Living Whisman."

IN LOVING MEMORY

May They Rest in PeaceDiedon January 29My second cousin once removed, a Dyke.My second cousin once removed, a Forgey.

Sunday, January 26, 2014

My second cousin once removed, a "Living Bergstrom."My second cousin twice removed, a "Living Gunther."My third cousin once removed, a "Living Gustafson."Husband of my third cousin, a "Living Hicks."My third cousin once removed, a "Living Olsen."

IN LOVING MEMORY

May They Rest in Peace

Born onJanuary 26, 1852

The husband of my great grand aunt, Berger Persen.He would have been 162 years old today.Born onJanuary 26, 1880

My first cousin three time removed, Erik Alfred. He would have been 140 years old today.

Once we came through the entrance from Trafalgar Square and walked around the corner, I realized I couldn't see the Palace. I looked at the many buildings all around me, in awe. Finally, I looked dead straight ahead and realized we had a good mile or so walk to get to the palace. It was straight down the street, it couldn't get any straighter.We walked along the sidewalk on the left side of the street. To the right, across the street I saw this, between some buildings.

Something was going on here I could tell just by looking at the crowd. It took me a minute or so to realize the crowd was probably watching the horse guard. I got in that act too, but you will see evidence of it in a future post.

Below is another photo with a light post in the way. I wanted to share the "splash of gold." It is the first sign of gold we see as we approach the palace.

If you look closely you will see lawn chairs set up at St. James Park. I may want to find one of these by the time we walk back out.

Back on the other side of the street this very tall statue appeared. I had no idea who the statue was, but I took the photo and looked it up on the internet. It is the Duke of York's Column. It stands near the mall (there was a mall there?) and is in memory of a son of King George lll. If you ever go and see this column, I will give you a head's up. Go to the top of the stairs to see an encased wooden box which actually is the grave of a dog. Search info on the Column and you should find out more about the dog also. To bad we didn't know.

Here is another photo of the park. The park has a small lake, "St. James Park Lake," with a couple of islands in it. Not sure why I don't have a photo of it here in this group, maybe I will have one in another posting.

Yup. We are still walking...The next photos I share will be of the grounds and the palace. As you can see below, I am still taking photos of the backs of people. I have explained once before, but if you are unaware, it is the only way I get my photos as we are walking. I make my quick stops, take a shot or two and then try to catch up again. luckily as I think I have stated before, my husband doesn't really seem to mind. Good thing because I love my photos.

A very HAPPY BIRTHDAYto:My second cousin once removed, a "Living Jensson."My second cousin,a "Living Spurlin."My third cousin,a "Living Warner."Married on January 21, 1913My grand aunt Hilda WestbyIN LOVING MEMORY

May They Rest in PeaceBorn on January 21, 1875My first cousin three times removed, Per August. He would have been 139 years old today.

Born on January 21, 1865Son of my second great grandfather,Anders Lundberg.He would have been 149 years old today.Born on January, 21, 1898My second cousin once removed, James O. Ness. He would have been 116 years old today.

About Me

At~myHeritageHappens dot com, I share my family history. I sort, learn, discuss, and analyze my family's legacy.
At~myhhsinphotos dot blogspot dot com (my Heritage Happens in Photos), I will share photos I have taken. I hope you will enjoy both of these blogs by me ~ Cheryl Palmer.
Contact info: geneaminded at gmail dot com.